Perth man Richard Hala faces extradition to Czech Republic

A Perth man is fighting his extradition over a fraud allegedly committed more than 20 years ago.Source: News Limited

A CZECH-born Perth man faces extradition for fraud allegedly committed almost 20 years ago unless he successfully appeals against a Federal Court decision.

Richard Hala moved from Czech Republic to Australia in 1986 and became an Australian citizen two years later.

In June 2010 and in his absence, Hala was convicted in the Czech Republic of financial fraud to the value of about $287,000 allegedly committed in 1995, and was sentenced to five years imprisonment.

In January 2011, an application for his extradition was made, he was detained at Hakea Prison in February 2012 and in September 2012 he was deemed in a Perth court an “eligible person” for extradition.

Then in July 2013, then minister for justice Jason Clare decided to surrender Hala to Czech authorities, but he sought a judicial review.

“Even if the applicant was correct in his contention that the minister had not made the surrender decision 'as soon as reasonably practicable, having regard to the circumstances', such a failure would not render the minister's decision void,” Judge Siopis said in his judgment.

Hala argued he was denied procedural fairness because he was not given an opportunity to comment on a response by Czech authorities to submissions he had sent to the Australian attorney-general's department.

“In my view, the requirements of procedural fairness did not, in this case require, oblige the department to refer the Czech Republic's response to the applicant for further comment,” Judge Siopis said.

He said any steps to extradite Hala could not be taken for the next 28 days and in the event he lodged an appeal against the judgement during that time.

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